humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
A Rude Awakening
“ You’ve been living in a dream world, Neo.” This was one of the famous quotes in the movie Matrix that Ms. Johnson referenced as she explained how the movie was one of her favorites. My interview with Ms. Johnson ,a Resolution Manager at Hertz, was conducted over the phone. She referenced this movie to explain how her perception of both the world and the people in it was forever changed. The purpose of my interview was to find the relevant events that occurred in this persons life that changed their overall outlook on life in a detrimental way.
By Darrian Broom9 years ago in Humans
Being Married to Someone on the Autism Spectrum
My husband was recently diagnosed as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). At first, I was immensely relieved by his diagnosis – we both were. For all the major miscommunications and resultant disagreements we’d had that led us to an assessment, we had started to think that either he had to be wired a bit differently or of late, we were both more irrational in each other’s company than Donald Trump is...in general. After our initial ‘aha!’ moment had passed, I began writing to various Autism support organizations thinking that surely, they’d be able to guide us in forging a way forward despite our utterly different approaches to life.
By Abellona T9 years ago in Humans
Never Good Enough
All my life, starting so early in my childhood, have I always been made to feel as if I'm not good enough. For anything, from not being good enough at being a child, not good enough to be friends with, not good enough as a sister, not good enough as a daughter, not good enough to be cast aside from my sexual assaulter so he could go after my sister. Not good enough for my biological father and his family to stay in my life, instead if abandoning my mother and I shortly after birth, not good enough for my adopted father to acknowledge me as his own. No, never have I been good enough, but I knew one day I would. From all those years of lack of love, it was building up for when I was a mother. I'd be plenty good enough to my children, and that is what kept me fighting; smiling with my head up high.
By Noel McLeod9 years ago in Humans
Sexism in the 21st Century.
The wonders of the modern age are numerous; we have been able to land on the moon, cure or treat a whole host of diseases and create pocket computers. Yet we still cling to the stupid belief that women are somehow inferior. They are not and men have only created this impression out of fear.
By John Ames Birch9 years ago in Humans
Why Didn't I Think of That Earlier?
There is little more frustrating than the inability to come up with a witty or off-the-cuff remark when insulted (either accidentally or on purpose). You freeze. Possibly stand still. If you’re anything like me the word "fuck" repeats over and over in your head in this really urgent loop. Sometimes I used walk away to only realise at a later point that I have little crescent moons embedded in my palms from having my fists so tightly balled. The funny thing is that maybe half an hour later it comes to you—the exact thing that would’ve been perfect to say. The exact thing that would’ve knocked that smug look right off their face, or if they’d inadvertently offended you, make them reconsider the fact that they obviously hadn’t thought of your feelings. You know you’re better than this, right? You’re better than them. This wasn’t you at your best and you go mad thinking about how you’d do things differently and you would be the one walking away high-fiving people and looking smugger (is that even a word?) than that sap Juliette Lewis.
By Caroline Egan9 years ago in Humans
What A Night
In researching the recess of my memory it was in the spring of '83 that I experienced what The Four Seasons sang about in their hit "Oh! What A Night" When in the opening lyrics of that hit instead of back in December of '63, Oh! What a night for me was that night back in '83. That night especially was a very special time for me. And, as the lyrics go as I remember what a night it was for me. I didn't even know her name when she waltzed up to the bar at the Gold Room. I knew then things were never going to be the same. What a lady and what a night it turned out to be.
By Dr. Williams9 years ago in Humans
Always On Her Toes: Chapter Two
Chapter Two: Gouge Out My Eyes Why Don’t You? I told DJ of the news and she gasped. Tears filled her eyes. So she left to be with him. Bryce, I mean. Who else? I mean, it’s his sister. Ok, that was stupid. Uh, why do I talk so choppy? That’s not the point. Anyways, I was almost jealous, that’s how upset she was. So I was alone in my studio. I looked around me, at the mirror me’s in the walls. I saw a girl in way over her head. I didn’t see me, the dancer. So I walked to the stereo, taking my jacket off along the way. I needed to decide, instrumental or lyrical? I chose lyrical, for a challenge. I chose "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. I stood with my legs crossed, bent to the side, arm over my head. On the first note, I rose. Spreading my arms wide, I twirled. When I rose from the twirl I leaped into the air in a spiral. I allowed myself to crumple into a ball. I let myself lay all the way flat on my back; I made my torso rise first. I pretended to walk out the door in a moonwalk fashion. I danced for hours. By the time I was finished it was late, like 1 am. I walked down the street to my apartment. I walked up the stairs, my body tired. So I barely made it into my living room. I collapsed into my easy chair. I felt sleep coming on, but I wanted to know if Sierra was ok. I practically crawled to my kitchen. I got a Monster Energy drink out of my fridge. These were usually for the days that I had late interviews or Bryce when he stayed with me. So there was no harm in taking one to run to the hospital. I popped the top on it and sat with my back against the fridge door. I gingerly sipped the substance. The liquid burned my throat as it travelled into my stomach. I felt it spread from my core, almost like when you’re cold and you drink hot cocoa. I felt it spread into my arms, my legs. Warmth. With the Monster it was energy. I got up ten minutes later when I finished it.
By Bridget Meier9 years ago in Humans
